Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (March 22, 1869—February 6, 1964) was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role in the revolutionary movement of the Philippines against Spain.

In the Philippines, Aguinaldo is recognized as the country's first president, though his office was not recognized internationally.

Contents

1 Early life and career 2 Fight for Philippine independence 2.1 Against Spain 2.2 Against the United States 3 American colonial period 4 Post-American era 5 Related articles 6 External link

Early life and career

Emilio Aguinaldo was born in Kawit, Cavite on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. His father, Carlos Aguinaldo, was mayor of that town. Aguinaldo was the seventh among eight children of Carlos Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy. Half-Chinese, he enjoyed relative wealth and power.

As a young boy, Aguinaldo received basic education from his great-aunt and later attended the town's elementary school. In 1880, he took up his secondary course education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which he quit on his third year to return home instead to help his widowed mother manage their farm.

At the age of 17, Emilio was elected as cabeza de barangay of Binakayan, the most progressive barrio of Kawit, Cavite. He held this position serving for his town-mates for eight years. He also engaged in inter-island shipping, travelling as far south as the Sulu Archipelago.

On January 1, 1895, Aguinaldo was elected mayor of Kawit, the same post his father once held.

Fight for Philippine independence

Against Spain

In 1895 Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan brotherhood, a secret organization then led by Andrés Bonifacio dedicated to the expulsion of the Spanish and independence for the Philippines. He joined as a lieutenant under Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo and rose to the rank of general in a few months. With the Katipunan, he helped the Philippines erupted in revolt against the Spaniards in 1896. He won several victories in Cavite Province, temporarily driving the Spanish out of the area. When Bonifacio came out of hiding in March 1897 and tried to reassert his leadership of the Katipunan, Aguinaldo ordered his arrest. He eventually ordered Bonifacio's execution on May 10, 1897.

Spanish attacks intensified, eventually forcing the Katipunan forces to retreat to the mountains. On December 14, 1897, the Pact of Biak-na-Bato was concluded. Under the pact, indemnities were to be paid in the amount of 400,000 pesos, and Aguinaldo along with 34 other leaders of the rebellion were to go into voluntary exile in Hong Kong. Aguinaldo took the money offered, but instead of remaining in exile he used the money to buy more weapons for the Filipino revolutionists. He returned to the Philippines in May 1898.

Upon Aguinaldo's return, he immediately resumed revolutionary activities against the Spaniards, receiving encouragement from the United States.

Against the United States

In 1898 the Spanish-American War started and Aguinaldo contacted American officials in hopes that they would aid in his struggle for independence. He at first received mixed signals, but fought in alliance with the Americans to oust the Spanish—including turning over 15,000 captured Spanish troops over to Admiral Dewey. However, relations with the Americans became increasingly strained when they showed no desire to recognize Philippine independence and sovereignty, and began occupying the country as the Spanish had. On his own, Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence on June 12 1898 [1] (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/aguinaldo.html).

The Philippine Constitutional Convention elected him President on January 1 1899. After fighting broke out between American troops and pro-independence Filipinos, Aguinaldo declared war on the United States on February 4, 1899. The shooting of a Filipino national on the San Juan bridge is considered the beginning of the Philippine-American War.

Aguinaldo led resistance to the American occupation, then retreated to northern Luzon. He where he was captured in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901 by US General Frederick Funston, who had gained access to Aguinaldo's camp by pretending to surrender to the Filipinos.

Taking him into custody, Funston noted his "dignified bearing," "excellent qualities," and "humane instincts." He accepted an offer that his life would be spared if he pledged allegiance to the United States. He pledged allegiance on April 1, 1901, effectively ending the First Republic and recognizing the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.

American colonial period

During the years of American rule, Aguinaldo continued to pursue his goal of a free and independent Philippines. He staunchly supported groups that advocated immediate independence, and helped veterans of the struggle.

When the American government finally allowed the Philippine flag to be displayed in 1919, Aguinaldo transformed his home in Kawit into a monument to the flag, the revolution and the declaration of Independence. His home still stands, and is known as the Aguinaldo Shrine.

Aguinaldo then retired from public life for many years. In 1935 when the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in preparation for Philippine independence, he ran for president but decisively lost the election to fiery Spanish mestizo Manuel L. Quezon.

Aguinaldo again retired to private life until the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War II. He was used by the Japanese as an anti-American tool, forced to make speeches, sign articles, and make infamous radio addresses in support of the Japanese — including a radio appeal to Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Corregidor to surrender in order to spare the innocence of the Filipino youth.

After the Americans retook the Philippines, Aguinaldo was arrested along with several others accused of collaboration with the Japanese. He was held in Bilibid prison for months until released by presidential amnesty. In his trial, it was determined that his broadcasts were made under great duress (the Japanese had threatened to murder his entire family), and his name was cleared.

Aguinaldo lived to see his lifelong goal of independence for his nation achieved on July 4, 1946, when the United States Government marked the full restoration and recognition of Philippine independence. During the independence parade at the Luneta, the 77-year old general carried the flag he raised in Kawit on June 12, 1898, the date he believed to be the true Independence Day.

Post-American era

In 1950, as a token vindication of his honor, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Aguinaldo as a member of the Council of State, where he served a full term. He returned to retirement soon after, dedicating his time and attention to veteran soldier’s interest and welfare, the promotion of nationalism and democracy in the Philippines and the development of the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

In 1962, when the United States rejected Philippine claims for the destruction wrought by American forces in World War II, president Diosdado Macapagal changed the celebration of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. Aguinaldo regarded this to be as the greatest victory of the Revolution of 1896. He rose from his sickbed to attend the celebration of independence 64 years after he declared it.

Aguinaldo died on February 6, 1964 of coronary thrombosis at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City. His remains are buried at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

Related articles

• Philippines
• History of the Philippines
• Philippine Revolution
• Katipunan
• Spanish-American War
• Philippine-American War
• President of the Philippines
• Aguinaldo Shrine

External link

• The Philippine Presidency Project (http://www.pangulo.ph)

Presidents of the Philippines

Aguinaldo | Quezon | Osmeña | Laurel | Roxas | Quirino | Magsaysay | Garcia | Macapagal | Marcos | Aquino | Ramos | Estrada | Arroyo

es:Emilio Aguinaldo ja:エミリオ・アギナルド no:Emilio Aguinaldo tl:Emilio Aguinaldo